The second season has them continuing to grow their business as well as focusing on family issues. 

Sam (Liam McMahon) and Mary (Claire Cooper) are a happy couple and dedicated to their children Liza (Shannon Lavelle), Joe (Adam Little) and Harry (Zak Ford-Williams). This season, Joe is entrusted with creating a Hardacre mercantile establishment. But will his father rely on his son’s judgement or interfere with his own ideas?

Liza has yet to feel the pressure of a suitable marriage. It is the 1890s and that was what was expected of young women. Her friend Lady Adella Fitzherbert (Holly Sturton) has been in London for “the season,” but has not found a suitable husband for herself. So when Liza is the object of a respectable suitor, Adella’s jealousy takes over.

Harry refuses to return to boarding school, so he is tutored at home in Hardacre Hall with the goal of getting into Oxford. For a lad from the docks, this is a high achievement.

Being the kind, sensitive woman she is, Mary wants everyone to have the opportunity to be the best they can be and elevate themselves to the best of their abilities, so she starts a school to educate those who cannot read or write.

Things are looking up for the family when Lady Fitzhebert’s mother Lady Imelda Hansen (Michele Dotrice) visits. Initially the Hardacres feel she is an ally with them. However, her true intention is to ruin the family and drive them back to the docks. Will she succeed or will her family realize she is wrong and side with the Hardacres?

This is the typical snooty-socialite brigade turning their noses up at a new, upwardly mobile family. With a formidable enemy in the form of Lady Hansen, the family faces some difficult situations but manage to keep their dignity throughout all the ups and downs.

The Hardacres are kind and ambitious, but that won’t get them the respect some of them want. On the other hand, Sam and Mary’s mother (Julie Graham) do not care about the respect of the rich snobs that look down on them. They are comfortable with their lives and know they are worthy of being where they are.

The series is taken from “The Hardacre Family Saga” books by C.L. Skelton. There are two books in this series. Whether there will be a third season in the TV series has yet to be determined. There are six episodes in this season which streams on BritBox.